Are we there yet? A new tool to measure progress in cancer research
From the "War on Cancer" to sponsored walkathons and races, society constantly aims to move cancer research forward. In a new paper published today in ecancermedicalscience, researchers aim to measure progress in cancer research through the use of an innovative first-of-its-kind tool— the PACE Continuous Innovation Indicators. Scientists brought together by Lilly Oncology's PACE (Patient Access to Cancer care Excellence) initiative developed these novel indicators to become one piece of the dynamic puzzle of assessing and quantifying "progress" and "value" in cancer research.
"Cancer policy discussions are too often simplistic," said study author Dr. Silvia Paddock of Rose Li and Associates, Inc., Maryland, USA. "We are winning the war against cancer, or we are losing it—this thinking ignores the reality that cancer is truly a complex set of diseases."
Equally complex is the concept of "value" in cancer care, which constantly becomes defined and refined by policymakers and stakeholders as each treatment evolves.
Using the PACE Continuous Innovation Indicators, cancer policy and research decision makers, patient advocates, and researchers can visualize progress against cancer over time and generate graphical outputs that may help them identify gaps and needs.
"Documenting measurable progress, whether minor improvements or bigger breakthroughs, is the first step to establishing a more accurate view of evolution in cancer research," Dr. Paddock said. "We hope that our work will ultimately better inform cancer policy efforts in order to accelerate the pace of innovation and keep the momentum going in our fight against cancer."
